Former Texas Congressman says he was abused at boys ranch

A former Texas Congressman says he was abused as a teen when he lived at a ranch that houses at-risk children in the Texas Panhandle.

Author:
Associated Press

Published:
10:15 AM CST December 24, 2017

Updated:
10:15 AM CST December 24, 2017

A former Texas Congressman says he was abused as a teen when he lived at a ranch that houses at-risk children in the Texas Panhandle.

Former Texas Congressman Bill Sarpalius told the Amarillo Globe-News that he was sexually abused by older boys at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in the 1960s. British newspaper The Guardian reported earlier this week that generations of former residents allege staffers had abused them from the 1950s through at least the 1990s.

Sarpalius says he believes the abuse happened because judges sent violent teens to be housed alongside low-income boys who had no family.

A statement from the organization said it was aware of the claims regarding "harmful encounters" and apologized. The ranch is a privately funded, faith-based residential program for children ages 5 to 18.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.